Wireless charging and communications systems with dual-frequency patch antennas

ABSTRACT

An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more dual-frequency dual-polarization patch antennas. Each patch antenna may have a patch antenna resonating element that lies in a plane and a ground that lies in a different parallel plane. The patch antenna resonating element may have a first feed located along a first central axis and a second feed located along a second central axis that is perpendicular to the first central axis. The patch antenna resonating element may be rectangular, may be oval, or may have other shapes. A shorting pin may be located at an intersecting point between the first and second axes. The patch antennas may be used in beam steering arrays. The patch antennas may be used for wireless power transfer at microwave frequencies or other frequencies and may be used to support millimeter wave communications.

BACKGROUND

This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, toelectronic devices with wireless circuitry.

Electronic devices often include wireless circuitry. For example,cellular telephones, computers, and other devices often contain antennasand wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communications. Somedevices include circuitry to support wireless charging operations.

Challenges can arise in implementing wireless charging andcommunications system. If care is not taken, sensitivity to antennamisalignment and other issues can make it difficult or impossible toachieve desired levels of performance when integrating antennas andother structures into devices of interest.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide systems withimproved wireless circuitry.

SUMMARY

An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry. Theelectronic device may use the wireless circuitry to transfer powerwirelessly to external equipment or to communicate wirelessly withexternal equipment. Patch antennas may be used for wireless powertransfer at microwave frequencies or other frequencies and may be usedto support millimeter wave communications. The patch antennas may beused to form a beam steering array. The wireless circuitry may includeadjustable circuitry to steer wireless signals associated with theantenna array.

The patch antennas may include one or more dual-frequencydual-polarization patch antennas. Each patch antenna may have a patchantenna resonating element that lies in a plane and a ground that liesin a different parallel plane. The patch antenna resonating element maybe rectangular, may be oval, or may have other shapes. The patch antennamay have a first feed located along a first central axis of the patchantenna resonating element and a second feed located along a secondcentral axis that is perpendicular to the first central axis. A shortingpin may be located at an intersecting point between the first and secondaxes.

Further features will be more apparent from the accompanying drawingsand the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative system with wirelesscircuitry in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry for use inelectronic devices in a system with wireless capabilities in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of illustrative wireless circuitry inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative dipole antenna in accordance withan embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative patch antenna inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an illustrative patch antenna in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an illustrative patch antenna with dualports in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an illustrative oval patch antenna in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a graph in which antenna efficiency has been plotted as afunction of frequency for an antenna such as a dual-polarizationdual-frequency patch antenna in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system of the type that may support wireless charging and wirelesscommunications is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the system mayinclude electronic devices such as electronic devices 10A and 10B.Devices such as 10A and 10B may communicate wirelessly over a wirelesscommunications link. The wireless communications link may be a cellulartelephone link (e.g., a wireless link at frequencies of 700 MHz to 2700MHz or other suitable cellular telephone frequencies), may be a wirelesslocal area network link operating at 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or other suitablewireless local area network frequencies, may involve millimeter wavecommunications (e.g., communications of the type sometimes referred toas extremely high frequency (EHF) communications that involve signals at60 GHz or other frequencies between about 10 GHz and 400 GHz), mayinvolve WiGig communications (millimeter wave IEEE 802.11 adcommunications in a communications band at 60 GHz), or may involvecommunications at any other wireless communications frequencies (e.g.,frequencies above 700 MHz, frequencies below 700 MHz, frequencies above400 GHz, frequencies below 400 GHz, frequencies from 1-1000 MHz,frequencies above 100 MHz, frequencies above 500 MHz, frequencies above1 GHz, frequencies from 1-400 GHz, frequencies below 100 GHz, or anyother frequencies of interest). Power may also be transferred wirelesslybetween devices 10A and 10B at these frequencies or any other suitablefrequencies. For example, device 10A may transfer power wirelessly todevice 10B (e.g., to power device 10B and/or to charge a battery indevice 10B). Wireless communications and wireless power transferoperations may be supported using wireless paths such as wireless path106 of FIG. 1.

Device 10A and/or device 10B may be a computing device such as a laptopcomputer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tabletcomputer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld orportable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wrist-watchdevice, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a deviceembedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, orother wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer displaythat does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, anavigation device, an embedded system such as a system in whichelectronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile,equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of thesedevices, or other electronic equipment.

As shown in FIG. 1, devices 10A and 10B may include wireless circuitssuch as circuit 104A of device 10A and circuit 104B of device 10B.Device 10A may include one or more antennas such as antennas 40A. Eachof antennas 40A may be coupled to a respective branch 102A of wirelesscircuitry between circuit 104A and that antenna 40A. Each circuit branch102A may include a respective one of adjustable circuits 100A (e.g.,adjustable circuitry for making phase and/or magnitude adjustments tothe signals conveyed on that branch). Device 10B may include one or moreantennas such as antennas 40B that exchange wireless power signalsand/or wireless communications signals with antenna(s) 40A via wirelesspath 106. Each of antennas 40B may be coupled to a respective branch102B of wireless circuitry between wireless circuit 104B and thatantenna 40B. Each circuit branch 102A may include a respective one ofadjustable circuits 100A (e.g., adjustable circuitry for making phaseand/or magnitude adjustments to the signals conveyed on that branch).

By making phase and/or magnitude adjustments using adjustable circuitrysuch as the circuitry of circuits 100A and 100B, the antenna arrays ofdevices 10A and/or 10B may be used to perform beam steering operationsassociated with the transmission and/or reception of wireless signals.Beam steering operations may, for example, be performed dynamically toensure that wireless power transfer operations or wirelesscommunications operations are performed effectively over path 106, evenas devices 10A and 10B are moved relative to each other and thesurrounding environment.

During wireless power transfer operations, wireless power transfercircuitry in circuit 104A in device 10A and circuit 104B in device 10Bmay be used to transfer power between devices. A first device such asdevice 10A may use circuit 104A, circuits 100A, and antennas 40A totransfer power wirelessly over path 106. A second device such as device10B may use antennas 40B, circuits 100B, and circuit 104B to receive thetransmitted wireless power. During wireless communications (e.g.,communications at extremely high frequencies or other suitablefrequencies), device 10A may transmit wireless signals to device 10Bover path 106. Device 10A may, for example, use circuit 104A, adjustablecircuits 100A, and antennas 40A to transmit wireless communicationssignals that are received by device 10B using antennas 40B, adjustablecircuits 100B, and circuit 104B.

A schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry of the type that may beused in devices such as devices 10A and 10B is shown in FIG. 2. As shownin FIG. 2, circuitry 10 may include control circuitry such as storageand processing circuitry 30. Storage and processing circuitry 30 mayinclude storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory(e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memoryconfigured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., staticor dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storageand processing circuitry 30 may be used to control the operation ofcircuitry 10. This processing circuitry may be based on one or moremicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, basebandprocessor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits,etc.

Storage and processing circuitry 30 may be used to run software ondevices 10A and/or 10B such as internet browsing applications,voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, emailapplications, media playback applications, operating system functions,functions related to supporting wireless charging operations, etc. Tosupport interactions with external equipment, storage and processingcircuitry 30 may be used in implementing communications protocols.Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage andprocessing circuitry 30 include internet protocols, wireless local areanetwork protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to asWiFi® and WiGig), protocols for other short-range wirelesscommunications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, cellular telephoneprotocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellitenavigation system protocols, etc.

Circuitry 10 may include input-output circuitry 44. Input-outputcircuitry 44 may include input-output devices 32. Input-output devices32 may be used to allow data to be supplied to device 10A and/or 10B andto allow data to be provided from device 10A and/or 10B to externaldevices. Input-output devices 32 may include user interface devices,data port devices, and other input-output components. For example,input-output devices may include touch screens (i.e., displays withtouch sensors), displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons,joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards,microphones, cameras, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audiojacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, lightsensors, accelerometers or other components that can detect motion anddevice orientation relative to the Earth, capacitance sensors, proximitysensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infraredproximity sensor), magnetic sensors, a connector port sensor or othersensor that determines whether a device is mounted in a dock, and othersensors and input-output components.

Input-output circuitry 44 may include wireless circuitry 34. Wirelesscircuitry 34 may include wireless circuitry 104 (sometimes referred toas transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, transceiver circuitry,etc.) for supporting wireless charging (e.g., using wireless powercircuitry 91) and/or wireless communications (e.g., using wirelesscommunications circuitry 90). Circuitry 104 may perform the functions ofcircuitry 104A, 104B, 100A, and 100B of FIG. 1. Wireless circuitry 104may be formed from one or more integrated circuits, may include poweramplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components,and/or other circuitry. Circuitry 104 may transmit and/or receivewireless signals over path 106 using one or more antennas 40 (see, e.g.,antennas 40A and 40B of FIG. 1).

Wireless communications circuitry 90 may include wireless local areanetwork transceiver circuitry that may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandsfor WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and that may handle the 2.4 GHzBluetooth® communications band. Circuitry 90 may also include cellulartelephone transceiver circuitry for handling wireless communications infrequency ranges such as a low communications band from 700 to 960 MHz,a midband from 1710 to 2170 MHz, and a high band from 2300 to 2700 MHzor other communications bands between 700 MHz and 2700 MHz or othersuitable frequencies (as examples). Circuitry 90 may handle voice dataand non-voice data. Circuitry 90 may include millimeter wave transceivercircuitry that may support communications at extremely high frequencies(e.g., millimeter wave frequencies from 10 GHz to 400 GHz or othermillimeter wave frequencies). Circuitry 90 may handle IEEE 802.11 ad(WiGig) communications at 60 GHz (millimeter wave frequencies). Ifdesired, circuitry 90 may include satellite navigation system circuitrysuch as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry for receivingGPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data(e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz). Satellite navigation system signalsmay be received from a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth.

In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, andother long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to conveydata over thousands of feet or miles. In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links andother short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used toconvey data over tens or hundreds of feet. Extremely high frequency(EHF) wireless transceiver circuitry (e.g., WiGig circuitry) may conveysignals over these short distances that travel between transmitter andreceiver over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception formillimeter wave communications, phased antenna arrays (e.g., an array ofantennas 40A in device 10A and/or an array of antennas 40B in device10B) and beam steering techniques (e.g., beam steering implemented usingadjustable circuits 100A in device 10A and/or adjustable circuits 100Bin device 10B) may be used. Antenna diversity schemes may also be usedto ensure that the antennas that have become blocked or that areotherwise degraded due to the operating environment of device 10 can beswitched out of use and higher-performing antennas used in their place.

Wireless circuitry 34 can include circuitry for other wirelessoperations if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry 90may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, pagingsystem transceivers, near field communications (NFC) circuitry, etc.

Antennas 40 in wireless circuitry 34 may be formed using any suitableantenna types. For example, antennas 40 may include antennas withresonating elements that are formed from loop antenna structures, patchantenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antennastructures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antennastructures, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more ofantennas 40 may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennasmay be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example,one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antennaand another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wirelesslink antenna. Yet another type of antenna may be used for supportingwireless power transfer operations. Dedicated antennas may be used forreceiving satellite navigation system signals or, if desired, antennas40 can be configured to receive both satellite navigation system signalsand signals for other communications bands (e.g., wireless local areanetwork signals and/or cellular telephone signals). Antennas 40 caninclude phased antenna arrays for handling millimeter wavecommunications, wireless power transfer, and other wireless operations.

Transmission line paths may be used to route antenna signals withincircuitry 10. For example, transmission line paths may be used to coupleantenna structures 40 to circuitry 104. Transmission lines in circuitry10 may include coaxial cable paths, microstrip transmission lines,stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmissionlines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, transmission linesformed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc.Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, andother circuitry may be interposed within the transmission lines, ifdesired.

Circuitry 10 of device 10A and/or device 10B may contain multipleantennas 40 (e.g., one or more antennas 40A and/or one or more antennas40B). The antennas may be used together or one of the antennas may beswitched into use while other antenna(s) are switched out of use. Ifdesired, control circuitry 30 may be used to select an optimum antennato use in circuitry 10 in real time and/or to select an optimum settingfor adjustable wireless circuitry 100A and/or 100B associated with oneor more of antennas 40. Antenna adjustments may be made to tune antennasto perform in desired frequency ranges, to perform beam steering with aphased antenna array, and to otherwise optimize antenna performance.Sensors may be incorporated into antennas 40 to gather sensor data inreal time that is used in adjusting antennas 40.

In some configurations, antennas 40 may include antenna arrays (e.g.,phased antenna arrays to implement beam steering functions). Forexample, the antennas that are used in handling millimeter wave signalsfor extremely high frequency wireless transceiver circuits may beimplemented as phased antenna arrays. The radiating elements in a phasedantenna array for supporting millimeter wave communications may be patchantennas, dipole antennas, or other suitable antenna elements.Transceiver circuitry can be integrated with the phased antenna arraysto form integrated phased antenna array and transceiver circuit modules.Phase antenna arrays may also be used in wireless power transferoperations.

As shown in FIG. 3, wireless circuitry 104 may be coupled to antenna 40using paths such as path 92 (e.g., a transmission line path). Wirelesscircuitry 104 may be coupled to control circuitry 30 so that circuitry104 can be controlled by circuitry 30 during wireless power transferoperations and/or wireless communications operations. Path 92 mayinclude one or more transmission lines. As an example, signal path 92 ofFIG. 3 may be a transmission line having a positive signal conductorsuch as line 94 and a ground signal conductor such as line 96. Lines 94and 96 may form parts of a coaxial cable or a microstrip transmissionline (as examples). A matching network formed from components such asinductors, resistors, and capacitors may be used in matching theimpedance of antenna 40 to the impedance of transmission line 92.Matching network components may be provided as discrete components(e.g., surface mount technology components) or may be formed fromelectronic device housing structures, printed circuit board structures,traces on plastic supports, etc. Components such as these may also beused in forming filter circuitry in antenna 40. Adjustable circuitrysuch as circuitry 100A and 100B for beam steering may be interposed inpaths such as path 92 (e.g., to make phase and/or amplitude adjustmentsfor the signals handled by an associated antenna).

Transmission line 92 may be coupled to antenna feed structuresassociated with antenna 40. As an example, antenna 40 may form a patchantenna, a dipole antenna, or other antenna having an antenna feed witha positive antenna feed terminal such as terminal 98 and a groundantenna feed terminal such as ground antenna feed terminal 100. Positivetransmission line conductor 94 may be coupled to positive antenna feedterminal 98 and ground transmission line conductor 96 may be coupled toground antenna feed terminal 100. Other types of antenna feedarrangements may be used if desired. The illustrative feedingconfiguration of FIG. 3 is merely illustrative.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of illustrative dipole antenna structures that maybe used in implementing antenna 40. Dipole antenna 40 has an antennafeed formed from feed terminals 98 and 100. Left and right arms 108extend outwardly from the antenna feed. If desired, dipole antenna 40may have crossed dipole elements (e.g., a first dipole formed from apair of arms 108 that extend along the Y dimension of FIG. 4 and asecond dipole formed from a pair of arms 108 that extend along theperpendicular X dimension of FIG. 4). Perpendicular dipole elements maybe used to provide antenna 40 with the ability to handle antenna signalswith orthogonal polarizations.

Patch antenna structures may also be used for implementing antenna 40(e.g., antennas 40A and/or antennas 40B of FIG. 1). An illustrativepatch antenna is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, patch antenna 40may have a patch antenna resonating element such as patch 110 that isseparated from a ground plane structure such as ground 112. Antennapatch resonating element 110 and ground 112 may be formed from metalfoil, machined metal structures, metal traces on a printed circuit or amolded plastic carrier, electronic device housing structures, or otherconductive structures in an electronic device such as device 10A or 10B10.

Antenna patch resonating element 110 may lie within a plane such as theX-Y plane of FIG. 5. Ground 112 may line within a plane that is parallelto the plane of antenna patch resonating element (patch) 110. Patch 110and ground 112 may therefore lie in separate parallel planes that areseparated by a distance H. Conductive path 114 may be used to coupleterminal 98′ to terminal 98. Antenna 40 may be fed using a transmissionline with positive conductor coupled to terminal 98′ and thus terminal98 and with a ground conductor coupled to terminal 100. Other feedingarrangements may be used if desired. Moreover, patch 100 and ground 112may have different shapes and orientations (e.g., planar shapes, curvedpatch shapes, patch element shapes with non-rectangular outlines, shapeswith straight edges such as squares, shapes with curved edges such asovals and circles, shapes with combinations of curved and straightedges, etc.).

A side view of a patch antenna such as patch antenna 40 of FIG. 5 isshown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, antenna 40 may be fed using anantenna feed (with terminals 98 and 100) that is coupled to atransmission line such as transmission line 92 (e.g., a signal path thatforms one of circuit branches 102A of FIG. 1 or one of circuit branches102B of FIG. 1). Patch element 110 of antenna 40 may lie in a planeparallel to the X-Y plane of FIG. 6 and the surface of the structuresthat form ground 112 (i.e., ground 112) may line in a plane that isseparated by vertical distance H from the plane of element 110. With theillustrative feeding arrangement of FIG. 6, ground conductor 96 oftransmission line 92 is coupled to antenna feed terminal 100 on ground112 and positive conductor 94 of transmission line 92 is coupled toantenna feed terminal 98 via an opening in ground 112 and conductivepath 114 (which may be an extended portion of conductor 94). Otherfeeding arrangements may be used if desired (e.g., feeding arrangementsin which a microstrip transmission line in a printed circuit or othertransmission line that lies in a plane parallel to the X-Y plane iscoupled to terminals 98 and 100, etc.).

To enhance the frequency coverage and polarizations handled by patchantenna 40, antenna 40 may be provided with multiple feeds. Anillustrative patch antenna with multiple feeds is shown in FIG. 7. Asshown in FIG. 7, antenna 40 may have a first feed at antenna port P1that is coupled to transmission line 92-1 and a second feed at antennaport P2 that is coupled to transmission line 92-2. The first antennafeed may have a first ground feed terminal coupled to ground 112 and afirst positive feed terminal 98-P1 coupled to patch antenna resonatingelement 110. The second antenna feed may have a second ground feedterminal coupled to ground 112 and a second positive feed terminal98-P2.

Patch 110 may have a rectangular shape with a pair of longer edgesrunning parallel to dimension X and a pair of perpendicular shorteredges running parallel to dimension Y. The dimension of patch 110 indimension X is L1 and the dimension of patch 110 in dimension Y is L2.With this configuration, antenna 40 may be characterized by orthogonalpolarizations and multiple frequencies of operation.

When using the first antenna feed associated with port P1, antenna 40may transmit and/or receive antenna signals in a first communicationsband at a first frequency (e.g., a frequency at which a half of awavelength is equal to dimension L1). These signals may have a firstpolarization (e.g., the electric field E1 of antenna signals 116associated with port P1 may be oriented parallel to dimension X). Whenusing the antenna feed associated with port P2, antenna 40 may transmitand/or receive antenna signals in a second communications band at asecond frequency (e.g., a frequency at which a half of a wavelength isequal to dimension L2). These signals may have a second polarization(e.g., the electric field E2 of antenna signals 116 associated with portP2 may be oriented parallel to dimension Y so that the polarizationsassociated with ports P1 and P2 are orthogonal to each other). Duringwireless power transfer operations and/or wireless communications usingsystem 10, device 10A and/or device 10B may use one or more antennassuch dual-polarization patch antenna 40 of FIG. 7 and may use port P1,port P2, or both port P1 and P2 of each of these antennas. When patchantenna 40 exhibits two orthogonal polarizations, it may be desirable touse an antenna formed from a pair of crossed dipoles (sometimes referredto as a crossed dipole antenna) on one end of path 106 and the patchantenna on the other end of path 106.

In scenarios in which patch 110 has different X and Y dimensions,antenna 40 will exhibit resonances at different frequencies (i.e.,antenna 40 will serve as a dual-polarization dual-frequency patchantenna). Dual-polarization dual-frequency patch antennas, crosseddipoles, or other antennas may be used in multiple-antenna arrays (indevice 10A and/or device 10B). For example, device 10A and/or device 10Bmay have an array of antennas 40 that are used in a beam steeringarrangement for wireless charging (e.g., wireless charging at 2.4 GHz orother microwave frequencies) or for wireless communications (e.g.,millimeter wave communications at 60 GHz such as WiGig communications orcommunications at other suitable communications frequencies).Dual-polarization dual-frequency patch antennas may be used on one endof path 106 (e.g., in device 10A) or on both ends of path 106 (e.g., indevice 10A and 10B).

In the example of FIG. 7, patch element 110 has a rectangular shape withdimensions (length and width) L1 and L2. If desired, patch element 110may be square (e.g., L1 and L2 may be equal so that patch 110 exhibits aresonance in a communications band at a single frequency) or may haveother patch shapes (e.g., shapes with straight edges, curved edges,combinations of straight and curved edges, etc.). In the illustrativeconfiguration of FIG. 8, patch antenna 40 has an oval shape and isassociated with two feeds: a first feed having positive antenna feedterminal 98-P1 and a second feed having positive antenna feed 98-P2.

In antenna 40 of FIG. 7, antenna 40 of FIG. 8, and other dual-port patchantennas, the first feed (i.e., the feed associated with first port P1)may be located along a central long axis of patch element 110 (see,e.g., major axis 122 of patch 110 of FIG. 8) and the second feed (i.e.,the feed associated with second port P2) may be located along aperpendicular central short axis of patch element 110 (see, e.g., minoraxis 124 of FIG. 8). An optional shorting pin may be connected betweenground 112 and patch 110 at central point 120 where the longer andshorter central axes of patch 110 intersect to help ensure that antennaimpedance is minimized (i.e., near to zero) in the middle of antenna 40.

FIG. 9 is a graph in which antenna efficiency has been plotted as afunction of operating frequency for an illustrative dual-polarizationdual-frequency patch antenna. Efficiency curve 130 may be characterizedby first peak 132, which is associated with operations using port P1,and second peak 134, which is associated with operations using port P2.Peaks 132 and 134 may be aligned with desired frequencies of operationfor devices 10A and 10B. For example, when supporting millimeter wavecommunications at 60 GHz, peaks 132 and 134 may be used to cover thefour channels associated with IEEE 802.11 ad communications (i.e., IEEE802.11 ad channel 1 at a frequency f1 of 58.32 GHz, channel 2 at afrequency f2 of 60.48 GHz, channel 3 at a frequency f3 of 62.64 GHz, andchannel 4 at a frequency f4 of 64.80 GHz). Advantages of using twoclosely spaced diversely polarized peaks such as peaks 132 and 134 ofcurve 130 of FIG. 9 rather than a single wide peak include enhancedefficiency and system bandwidth. Dual-polarization dual-frequency patchantenna 40 may also exhibit enhanced directionality, which helps ensurethat beam steering operations will be successful when using an array ofantennas 40.

The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope andspirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may beimplemented individually or in any combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device that communicates wirelesslywith an external device, comprising: millimeter wave wirelesscommunications circuitry; and a dual-polarization patch antenna that iscoupled to the millimeter wave wireless communications circuitry andthat is configured to communicate wirelessly with the external device,wherein the dual-polarization patch antenna comprises one of an array ofdual-polarization patch antennas and the millimeter wave wirelesscommunications circuitry comprises adjustable circuitry that performsbeam steering with the array of dual-polarization patch antennas duringmillimeter wave wireless communications between the millimeter wavewireless communications circuitry and the external device.
 2. Theelectronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the dual-polarizationpatch antenna has a patch antenna resonating element and a ground, thepatch antenna resonating element and the ground lie in separate parallelplanes, the patch antenna resonating element has first and secondperpendicular central axes, dual-polarization patch antenna has a firstfeed that lies along the first central axis, and the dual-polarizationpatch antenna has a second feed that lies along the second central axis.3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the millimeter wavewireless communications circuitry communicates in channels at first,second, third, and fourth frequencies and the dual-polarization patchantenna has a first resonance peak that covers the first and secondfrequencies and a second resonance peak that covers the third and fourthfrequencies.
 4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein thefirst, second, third, and fourth frequencies are associated respectivelywith first, second, third, and fourth frequencies 60 GHz communicationschannels.
 5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the first,second, third, and fourth frequencies are associated respectively withfirst, second, third, and fourth IEEE 802.11 ad channels.
 6. Theelectronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the first and secondcentral axes intersect at an intersection point and thedual-polarization patch antenna comprises a shorting pin that shorts thepatch antenna resonating element to the ground at the intersectionpoint.
 7. An electronic device, comprising: wireless circuitry; and anarray of dual-polarization patch antennas coupled to the wirelesscircuitry, wherein the wireless circuitry includes adjustable circuitrythat performs beam steering with the array of dual-polarization patchantennas, wherein each of the dual-polarization patch wherein the patchantenna resonating element and the ground lie in separate parallelplanes, and wherein the patch antenna resonating element has first andsecond perpendicular central axes and first and second respectivedifferent dimensions along the first and second central axes.
 8. Theelectronic device defined in claim 7 wherein each of thedual-polarization patch antennas has a first feed that lies along thefirst central axis of that antenna and has a second feed that lies alongthe second central axis of that antenna.
 9. The electronic devicedefined in claim 8 further comprising a display, wherein the wirelesscircuitry comprises millimeter wave wireless communications circuitry.10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the millimeter wavewireless communications circuitry is configured to handle IEEE 802.11 adchannels.
 11. An electronic device that communicates wirelessly with anexternal device, comprising: millimeter wave wireless communicationscircuitry; and a dual-polarization patch antenna that is coupled to themillimeter wave wireless communications circuitry and that is configuredto communicate wirelessly with the external device, wherein thedual-polarization patch antenna has a patch antenna resonating elementand a ground, the patch antenna resonating element has first and secondperpendicular central axes, dual-polarization patch antenna has a firstfeed that lies along the first central axis, and the dual-polarizationpatch antenna has a second feed that lies along the second central axis.12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the patch antennaresonating element and the ground lie in separate parallel planes. 13.The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the dual-polarizationpatch antenna comprises a dual-polarization patch antenna.